Hydromassage device

ABSTRACT

A hydromassage device which can be secured against the back of a person to deflect the spray of a shower against the person&#39;&#39;s back with a massaging action. The device includes a baffle having a concavely curved forward edge for application to the person&#39;&#39;s back and a deflection surface extending rearwardly from the forward edge. The baffle is carried by a pair of shoulder and/or waist supports.

United States Patent Higgs 1 Aug. 1,1972

[54] HYDROMASSAGE DEVICE [72] Inventor: Stuart P. Riggs, 115 55 Sylan #5,

North Hollywood, Calif. 91606 [22] Filed: May 10, 1971 [2]] Appl. No.: 141,860

[52] US. Cl .Q ..128/66, 128/366 [51] Int. Cl. ..A61h 9/00 [58] Field of Search ..128/66, 366; 4/145, 157

[56] I References Cited I UNlT ED STATES PATENTS 1,720,122 7/1929 Findlay ..4/157 1,954,412 4/1934 I Hollingsworth ..4/157 Primary Examine'r- Lawrence W. Trapp Attorney-Nilsson, Robbins, Wills & Berliner [57] ABSTRACT A hydromassage device which can be secured against the back of a person to deflect the spray of a shower against the person's back with a massaging action. The device includes a baflle having a concavely curved forward edge for application to the person's back and a deflection surface extending rearwardly from the forward edge. The baffle is carried by a pair of shoulder and/or waist supports.

10 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures HYDROMASSAGE DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The fields of art to which the invention pertains include the fields of fluid current kinesitherapy an showering apparatus.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A person with weak back muscles or who suffers back pain as a result of accidental twisting or displacement can often find relief from backaches and pains by massaging of the back muscles. Relief can be aided by the application of heat during the massaging action and a variety of devices have been developed providing thermal massage action. Such devices are generally quite expensive and typically involve the use of electrically generated heat.

The present invention provides a simple, economical device for simultaneously applying heat and massage to a persons back. In particular, a hydromassage device is provided for directing shower water in agitation against the back of a person. The device comprises a baffle having a concavely curved forward edge for application to the back of a person and a deflection surface extending rearwardly from the forward edge. The baf'fle is secured to the persons back by means of shoulder hooks or a waist strap, or a combination thereof and is positioned immediately beneath the area to be massaged. In use, warm shower water is directed obliquely at the baffle to be deflected from the deflection surface onto the persons back. The stream of water strikes the persons back directly and by deflection from the shallow pool imparting a swirling, massaging action.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the device, shown attached to a person;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view on line 2-2 of FIG. I, in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION As required, detailed illustrative embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that these embodiment merely exemplify the invention which may take forms that are different from the specific illustrative embodiments disclosed. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but as a basis for the claims.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, one form hydromassage device is illustrated secured to the back of a person 12. The device 10 includes a baffle 14 secured to shoulder hooks 16 and 18. The baffle 14 includes a bottom wall portion 20, the top surface 22 of which defines a deflection surface. The bottom wall has a forward edge 24 which is concavely curved so as to be easily applied to the back of the person 12. The baffle 14 includes a pair of side walls 26 and 28 and a rear wall 30 around its perimeter, which are relatively shallow to provide a shallow tray-like construction so that the baffle 14 forms a trough with the persons back. A

strip 32 of rubber or other elastic material is secured along the forward edge 24 to provide closer engagement with the persons back. The shoulder hooks l6 and 18 are secured to the baffle 14 at points spaced rearwardly from the forward edge 24 so as to support the baffle 14 in extension from the person s back.

Referring to the shoulder hook 18, each shoulder hook is formed of tubing curved at its forward end 34 to hook over the persons shoulder so as to engage the front of the person 12. The rear end 36 of the shoulder hook is flattened and formed with an elongate slot 38. A bolt 40 extends through the rear baffle wall 30 on each side thereof and through the elongate shoulder hook slot 38 and is secured thereto by means of a wing nut 42. The baffle 14 can be adjusted to a desired vertical position simply by loosening the wing nuts 42 and adjusting the baffle 14 with respect to the shoulder hook slots 38, securing the wing nuts 42 to lock the baffle 14 in place.

The shoulder hooks 16 and 18 can be formed of hollow plastic which is curved and which has one end flattened to provide the end portion 36, or metal tubing can be utilized. The baffle 14 can be constructed of metal, wood or plastic as desired. The entire baffle unit can be constructed in one integral piece from plastic, substituting a solid lip for the flexible strip 32, or that edge can be completely flat.

In use, the baffle 14 is secured at a desired vertical position on the hooks l6 and 18. The person 12 places the hooks 16 and 18 over his shoulders so that the baffle deflection surface 22 extends rearwardly from his back. He then faces away from a shower head 44 from which a stream of water 46 is spraying. The shower head 44 includes a control valve 48 so that the intensity of the water spray 46 can be controlled. The spray 46 is directed obliquely at the deflection surface 22 so as to deflect upwardly therefrom. The baffle 14 forms a shallow through, but retains no water or only a minor, very shallow pool of water. The deflected water combines with a portion of the spray which impinges directly against the users back to provide a swirling hydromassaging action. The shower water 46 may be hot so that the massage is obtained under thermal conditions, or may be warm or even cold depending upon the particular desires of the user. An advantage of the invention is that the temperature of the massaging water can be accurately controlled.

In place of the shoulder hooks l6 and 18, one can utilize flexible straps which are secured to the baffle rear wall 30 and which are placed over the users shoulders in the manner of suspenders, hooking onto a belt, or the like.

Referring to FIG. 3, an alternative embodiment is illustrated wherein a baffle 50 is provided with a pair of lateral straps 52 and 54, one strap 52 having eyelets 56 for engagement with a buckle 58 carried at the end of the other strap 54. These straps encircle the persons waist and are buckled as a belt to secure the baffle 50 rearwardly of the person 12.

In this embodiment, the baffle 50 includes a bottom wall 60, side walls 62 and 64 and a rear wall 66. The bottom wall 60 has a concavely curved forward edge, and a top surface which defines a deflection surface. A strip 68 of rubber or the like is secured to the curved forward edge. The baffle 50 is thus structured in acmets 70 to the side walls 62 and 64.

In use, the baffle 50 can simply be strapped to the user so as to extend outwardly from his back. Shower water can be directed against the baffle bottom wall 60 in the same manner as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Optionally, as shown by the dashed lines in FIG. 3, a pair of shoulder straps 72 and 74 can be provided to give additional support to the baffle 50. In this case, the extended strut construction of the side members 62 and 64 can be omitted. Other modifications can be made to adapt the structure to the needs of the particular user.

I claim 1. A hydromassage device for use in a shower, comprising:

a baffle having a concavely curved forward edge for application to the back of a person and a deflection surface extending rearwardly from said forward edge; and

at least one member extending from said baffle to the front of the person, said member having a front end formed to engage the front of the person and a rear end secured to said baffle for supporting said baffle in extension from the persons back so as to deflect shower water directed obliquely at said baffle onto the persons back.

2. The invention according to claim '1 in which said member comprises an elongate shoulder hook extending from said baffle at a point spaced rearwardly from said forward edge to at least the front of the person's shoulder.

3. The invention according to claim 1 in which a pair of members, including said one member, is secured rearwardly to said baffle and extends from said baffle to the front of the person, said pair of members engaging the front of the person.

4. The invention according to claim 3 in which said pair of members comprises a pair of elongate shoulder hooks extending from said baffle at points spaced rearwardly of said forward edge to at least the front of the persons shoulders.

5. The invention according to claim 3 in which said pair of members comprises a pair of straps connected rearwardly to said baffle and means for interconnecting the forward ends of said straps to encircle the persons waist.

6. The invention according to claim 5 including at least one support strut dependent from said baffle for bearing against the person.

7. The invention according to claim 1 including means for adjusting the vertical disposition of said baffle along the persons back.

8. The invention according to claim 1 including retainer walls along the outer edges of said deflection surface for retaining a pool of water to be deflected.

9. The invention according to claim 1 including shallow retaining walls around the rear perimeter of said baffle.

10. The invention according to claim 1 including a back. 

1. A hydromassage device for use in a shower, comprising: a baffle having a concavely curved forward edge for application to the back of a person and a deflection surface extending rearwardly from said forward edge; and at least one member extending from said baffle to the front of the person, said member having a front end formed to engage the front of the person and a rear end secured to said baffle for supporting said baffle in extension from the person''s back so as to deflect shower water directed obliquely at said baffle onto the person''s back.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 in which said member comprises an elongate shoulder hook extending from said baffle at a point spaced rearwardly from said forward edge to at least the front of the person''s shoulder.
 3. The invention according to claim 1 in which a pair of members, including said one member, is secured rearwardly to said baffle and extends from said baffle to the front of the person, said pair of members engaging the front of the person.
 4. The invention according to claim 3 in which said pair of members comprises a pair of elongate shoulder hooks extending from said baffle at points spaced rearwardly of said forward edge to at least the front of the person''s shoulders.
 5. The invention according to claim 3 in which said pair of members comprises a pair of straps connected rearwardly to said baffle and means for interconnecting the forward ends of said straps to encircle the person''s waist.
 6. The invention according to claim 5 including at least one support strut dependent from said baffle for bearing against the person.
 7. The invention according to claim 1 including means for adjusting the vertical disposition of said baffle along the person''s back.
 8. The invention according to claim 1 including retainer walls along the outer edges of said deflection surface for retaining a pool of water to be deflected.
 9. The invention according to claim 1 including shallow retaining walls around the rear perimeter of said baffle.
 10. The invention according to claim 1 including a strip of resilient material along the forward edge of said baffle for close-fitting said baffle against the person''s back. 